USA > Kansas > Shawnee County > History of Shawnee County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 8
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Jackson, Edward Moss, James Murdock, John North, John S. Stamp, H. M. Spradley, Aaron R. Thompson and Willis White.
This regiment was a model organization of colored men, and while not called upon the firing line its whole duty was promptly and efficiently per- formed. After being mustered in at Topeka in July, 1898, it went to New York and sailed from there August 25th on the steamer "Vigilancia" for Santiago, Cuba, arriving there August 31st. It was in camp at San Luis from September 1, 1898, to February 28, 1899, and sailed from Santiago March Ist for Newport News, Virginia, arriving there March 6th. On the Ioth of March it proceeded by rail to Fort Leavenworth and was mustered out on April 10, 1899.
GENERAL HUDSON'S SERVICE.
In connection with the subject of the war with Spain, mention should be made of the service of Joseph K. Hudson, of Topeka, who was commis- sioned May 29, 1898, to be brigadier-general of volunteers. General Hudson was assigned to the Fourth Army Corps at Tampa, Florida, under Major General Coppinger. He was given command of the Second Brigade of the Second Division. General. Hudson was a soldier and an officer in the Civil War and his experience was of vast service in bringing his brigade into soldierly trim and military efficiency. After his service at Tampa he was transferred to Huntsville, Alabama, and mustered out in November, 1898, the shifting of the scene of war rendering it unnecessary to call his command into active fighting service.
PHI ALPHA DELTA 1612 COLLEGE AVE. TOPEKA, KANSAS
CHAPTER IX.
State Officials from Shawnee County-Record of Their Appointment, Elec- tion and Service-United States Senators and Congressmen-Federal Positions Filled-Prominent Railroad Men-The Press of Shawnee County-Newspapers of Early Days-List of Papers now Published- The Mortality Sheet.
Exclusive of membership in the legislative assemblies and constitutional conventions, and service on the District Bench, the first citizen of Shawnee County to fill a Territorial position was William W. Ross, who was made pub- lic printer in 1857. Rush Elmore became an associate justice of the Supreme Court by appointment in 1858, and John Ritchie was a member of the Board of Penitentiary Commissioners in 1859. That was the full extent of Shaw- nee County's officeholding during the Kansas Territorial period. Judge El- more served as associate justice from June 29, 1854, to September 13, 1855, but at the time of his first appointment he was a citizen of Alabama.
STATE OFFICERS.
In looking over the list of State officers, the surprising fact is encountered that no citizen of Topeka, or of Shawnee County, has had the honor of being elected to the office of Governor. Three of the Governors, Samuel J. Craw- ford, Thomas A. Osborn and George T. Anthony, became residents of the city after the close of their terms. Only two Topeka men have filled the office of Lieutenant Governor : James A. Troutman, 1895-97, and A. M. Harvey, 1897-99. Jacob Safford is the only Topeka man ever elected to the Supreme bench (associate justice), 1865-71. George W. Clark was a judge of the Court of Appeals, 1895-97. B. F. Simpson was a Supreme Court commis- sioner, 1887-93. Gasper C. Clemens was Supreme Court reporter, 1897-99. Topeka has had three of the clerks of the Supreme Court: Andrew Stark, 1861-67; E. B. Fowler, 1868-70; and John Martin, 1897-99.
Rufus W. Johnson, of Topeka, was appointed Secretary of State in Au- gust, 1862, and served five months. William Higgins was Secretary from 1889 to 1893. David L. Lakin was Auditor of State in 1862, by appointment,
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and P. I. Bonebrake filled the same office from October, 1876, to January, 1883. Archibald L. Williams was Attorney General for four years, 1871-75, and A. A. Godard was elected to the same position, 1889-1903. Maj. William Sims was State Treasurer by appointment, March I to December 30, 1890. Peter MacVicar was State Superintendent of Public Instruction for four years, 1867-71. Topeka has furnished five of the State printers: S. S. Prouty, 1869-73; Clifford C. Baker, 1887-91; Joseph K. Hudson, 1895-97; George A. Clark, 1903-05; Thomas McNeal, 1905 -. Capt. J. B. Johnson was Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1881-82 and 1885-86. John Guthrie was Speaker pro tem in 1870, George W. Veale in 1873, and Edwin D. Mckeever in 1901-02. Under the system prevailing in early years, A. H. Case was district attorney for the Third District (Shawnee and other coun- ties), 1861-63.
SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN.
Covering a period of 30 years, except the term from 1889 to 1891, Topeka has supplied the Member of Congress from the district in which the city is located : Thomas Ryan, 1877-89; John G. Otis, 1891-93; Charles Cur- tis, 1893-1907. Two United States Senators have also been elected from among her citizens : William A. Peffer, 1891-97, and John Martin, 1893-95. It will thus be seen that during the years 1893-95 Topeka had two United States Senators and a Congressman in the public service-an unusal circum- stance, if not altogether without a parallel in the annals of Congress.
In the State military department Topeka has furnished seven adjutants general,-Guilford Dudley, Cyrus K. Holliday, Thomas J. Anderson, Josiah B. McAfee, Hiram T. Beman, Alexander B. Campbell and J. W. F. Hughes; two majors general,-Thomas J. Anderson and J. W. F. Hughes; three brig- adiers general,-Robert A. Freidrich, Andrew M. Fuller and J. W. F. Hughes; one inspector general,-Nelson H. Loomis; six engineers in chief,- George T. Robinson, L. C. Wilmarth, James Moore, William P. Wilcox, George W. Porter and Pancoast Kidder; one judge advocate general,-W. A. S. Bird; two paymasters general,-Frank M. Bonebrake and Charles S. Elliott; and three surgeons general,-D. C. Jones, J. B. Hibben and F. H. Martin.
NON-ELECTIVE POSITIONS.
Other State positions filled by citizens of Topeka and Shawnee County have been : President State Board of Agriculture,-Hiram J. Strickler and William Sims ; secretary of State Board of Agriculture,-Franklin G. Adams,
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Hiram J. Strickler, Joseph K. Hudson and William Sims; President of State Board of Health,-Milo B. Ward ; secretary of State Board of Health,-J. W. Redden, Michael O'Brien, H. A. Dykes, William B. Swan and Charles Lowry ; president of Kansas State Historical Society,-Samuel A. Kingman, Floyd P. Baker, Cyrus K. Holliday, Thomas A. Osborn, Eugene F. Ware and John Martin; secretary of Kansas State Historical Society,-Floyd P. Baker and Franklin G. Adams; State superintendent of insurance,-Harrison Clarkson and Orrin T. Welch; State librarian,-Samuel A. Kingman, Annie L. Diggs and James L. King ; school text book commissioner,-D. O. McCray; State architects, -- L. M. Wood, George Ropes, Seymour Davis, J. C. Holland, T. H. Lescher and J. F. Stanton ; president of Academy of Science,-Joseph T. Lovewell and A. H. Thompson; secretary of Academy of Science,-George P. Grimsley ; librarian and curator of Academy of Science, -- Francis W. Cragin and Bernard B. Smyth; railroad commissioner,-Samuel T. Howe; secretary of Board of Railroad Commissioners,-Charles S. Elliott and M. D. Henderson.
FEDERAL POSITIONS.
Judge United States District Court,-Archibald Williams (1861-63) ; clerks,-John T. Morton ( 1861-63), Franklin G. Adams ( 1863-65)., Adolphus S. Thomas (1865-74), Joseph C. Wilson ( 1874-95) ; marshals,-J. L. Mc- Dowell (1861-64), Charles C. Whiting ( 1867-69), William E. Sterne ( 1898- 1902) ; assistant district attorneys,-A. H. Case ( 1865-69) ; A. L. Williams (1869-70), Thomas Ryan (1875-77), Lewis Hanback ( 1877-79), Charles Blood Smith ( 1879-86), Eugene Hagan ( 1886-89), P. L. Soper ( 1889-95), Rankin Mason (1885-97), H. J. Bone ( 1897-1901), Edwin D. Mckeever (1901-05).
The most important Federal position ever obtained for the county of Shawnee or the city of Topeka was that of United States Ambassador to Mex- ico, and honor bestowed upon Thomas Ryan by President Harrison 1889-93. This is the only diplomatic station of the first-class to which a citizen of Kan- sas has ever been appointed. Mr. Ryan was elected to Congress in 1876 and re-elected for six successive terms, resigning in 1889 to go to Mexico. In 1897 Mr. Ryan was appointed by President Mckinley to be First Assistant Secretary of the Interior, being reappointed in 1901, and again in 1905 by President Roosevelt.
Thomas A. Osborn was appointed United States Minister to Chile in 1879 by President Garfield, and was subsequently promoted to the Brazilian mission, 1881-85. James W. Steele received the appointment of United States Consul to Mantanzas, Cuba, and served from 1874 to 1879. Charles K. Holliday was
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HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
charge d'affairs at Caracas, Venezuela, 1888-90, by appointment from Presi- dent Cleveland. In 1887-90 Oscar Bischoff was United States Consul at Son- neberg, Germany. Gen. John C. Caldwell was appointed to be United States Consul at San Jose, Costa Rica, in 1897, and is still in the diplomatic service at that post. During the period from 1881 to 1885 Noah C. McFarland served as Commissioner General of the Land Office, under the administration of President Garfield. Eugene F. Ware was appointed to be Commissioner of Pensions in 1902, by President Roosevelt, and served until 1905, when he resigned.
OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON.
Ward Burlingame has been clerk and chief clerk in the Dead Letter Office at Washington from 1885 to the present time. Prior thereto he had been the private secretary of four Governors of Kansas and three United States Sen- ators from this State. Alex. R. Banks has been a special examiner of the Pensions Office from 1880 to the present date. Robert M. Fulton is an inspec- tor of the Post Office Department, appointed in 1897. Everett J. Dallas is one of the members of the Board of Pension Appeals, in service since 1901. Charles Allen Mills is a special agent of the rural free delivery service, 1901-05. B. A. Allen is one of the chief clerks in the office of the auditor for the Post Office Department, 1892-1905. T. F. Dennis has been connected with the Pension Office for many years, and is now a member of the Board of Review of that office.
THE RAILROAD LIST.
Former citizens of Topeka now filling important railroad positions out- side of the State are the following: A. A. Robinson, president Mexican Cen- tral; H. R. Nickerson, vice-president, Mexican Central; H. U. Mudge, vice- president, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Samuel T. Fulton, assistant to president of Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Jolin Sebastian, passenger traffic manager, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; George T. Nicholson, passenger traffic manager, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe system ; George R. Peck, solici- tor, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; W. H. Brewer, assistant to general man- ager, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe coast lines; W. F. Evans, general attorney, St. Louis, Kansas City & Colorado; Lewis Kingman, chief engineer, Mexican Central; W. B. Biddle, third vice-president, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; C. F. Jilson, assistant treasurer, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Charles R. Hudson, president, San Antonio & Arkansas Pass ; Thomas J. Norton, solicitor, Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix; W. B. Jansen, assistant to president, Atchison,
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY GENERAL OFFICES
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY HOSPITAL
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Topeka & Santa Fe; James Dun, chief engineer, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Avery Turner, vice-president and general manager, Pecos Valley & North- eastern; Don A. Sweet, auditor and secretary, Pecos Valley & Northeastern; F. J. Shubert, assistant general freight agent, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; H. H. Embry, general freight agent, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific lines west of Missouri River; Robert Dunlap, general attorney, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; R. J. Parker and H. W. Sharp, division superintendents, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; W. H. Simpson, manager advertising department, Atchi- son, Topeka & Santa Fe. Charles S. Gleed and Howel Jones, of Topeka, are resident directors of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe.
NEWSPAPER HISTORY.
Shawnee County has from the very beginning been a great field for news- papers, and Topeka has for more than half a century maintained its reputation as an important news center. The first newspaper venture was the Kansas Freeman (weekly), edited and published by E. C. K. Garvey in 1855, at Topeka, the first number being dated July 4. Mr. Garvey was from Milwau- kee. In aid of his newspaper he received from the Topeka Town Association a valuable piece of property at the southeast corner of Kansas and Fifth ave- nues, now described as lots numbered 146 to 156, inclusive. The association built for him on the corner lot a substantial frame building, the first to be erected in Topeka of sawed lumber. It is still standing at the original loca- tion, although its appearance has been materially changed. The paper was discontinued in the spring of 1856. During the month of October, 1855, it was published as a daily, and contained the proceedings of the Topeka consti- tutional convention.
JOHN SPEER'S PAPER.
The second newspaper was the Kansas Tribune. It was established at Lawrence in January, 1855, and renewed at Topeka December 10, 1855, by John Speer and William W. Ross. The Tribune appeared first as a weekly. A daily edition was printed in March, 1856, while the Legislature was in ses- sion, the publishers being W. W. Ross and E. G. Ross-Mr. Speer having retired. The Ross brothers continued the weekly publication until September, 1858, when they sold to Shepherd & Cummings. Later J. F. Cummings became the sole proprietor. Andrew Stark bought the paper in 1863, and published it until the spring of 1865. Garvey & Holliday became the proprie- tors May 5, 1865, and resold to John P. Greer, October 27, 1866. Mr. Greer continued it, part of the time as a daily, until February 23, 1867, when it was
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suspended. It reappeared as a daily December 6, 1867, and continued under the proprietorship of Greer & Williams until the spring of 1868, through the legislative session, when it was finally discontinued.
A LEADING JOURNAL IN ITS DAY.
The third newspaper was the Kansas State Record (weekly), published at Topeka, October 1, 1859, by E. G. and W. W. Ross, the latter retiring in 1861. E. G. Ross continued it until August 19, 1862, when he sold to S. D. McDonald and F. G. Adams. Floyd P. Baker bought the Adams interest February 1, 1863, and the McDonald interest February 6, 1868. In addition to the weekly, a daily edition was started June 3, 1868. Capt. Henry King bought a half interest in the paper April 20, 1869, and became the editor-in- chief. Baker and King were the proprietors until February 15, 1871, when King retired. The daily Record was consolidated with the Commonwealth, December 7, 1871. The weekly Record was continued by G. D. Baker and S. D. McDonald until May 25, 1875, when it was also transferred to the Com- monwealth. During the time that Captain King was in charge of the Record, his associate editor was Noble L. Prentis.
THE FAMOUS COMMONWEALTH.
The Topeka daily and weekly Commonwealth was established by S. S. Prouty and J. B. Davis May 1, 1869, with Ward Burlingame as editor. A. W. Edwards and George W. Crane became identified with the paper July 1, 1869, and a month later the firm became Prouty, Davis & Crane, Edwards retiring. Davis and Crane subsequently sold their interest to F. L. Crane and S. D. McDonald, and the firm name was changed to S. S. Prouty & Company. Upon the consolidation of the Record with the Commonwealth, December 7, 1871, the publication was continued by the Commonwealth Company, of which S. S. Prouty was president and manager, and Henry King, managing editor. W. H. Rossington and James L. King were connected with the paper in 1872, and in 1873 Mr. Rossington became the managing editor. S. S. Prouty retired from the company August 17. 1873, and Henry King became the publisher and chief editor. The paper was seriously crippled by a fire which destroyed its entire plant October 20, 1873. Under the reorganization, George W. Veale succeeded to the proprietorship and continued the business until January 1, 1875, when he sold to Floyd P. Baker. The latter took possession March 7, 1875, and engaged Noble L. Prentis as editor. After June 1, 1876, the paper was continued by F. P. Baker & Sons. May 1, 1881, they organized the Commonwealth Company, and published the paper under that name for
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several years, with T. B. Murdock as managing editor. The Commonwealth was discontinued in 1888, the franchise and good will being purchased by the publishers of the Capital.
HISTORY OF THE CAPITAL.
The Topeka daily Capitol was established April 21, 1879, by J. K. Hudson and E. E. Ewing, the latter retiring January 31, 1880. It was an evening paper at first, a five-column folio, but grew to metropolitan proportions within a year, and was enlarged to eight pages January 1, 1881. It was changed to a morning paper in that year, and a stock company formed, with J. K. Hudson as business manager, and Henry King as editor. Mr. King retired from the paper March 26, 1883, and J. K. Hudson assumed the entire editorial and business management. A part of the editorial work was afterward done by William A. Peffer. The Capital absorbed the Commonwealth November I, 1888, the principal owners at that time being J. K. Hudson and Dell Keizer. In June, 1890, the Topeka Capital Company was formed, with J. K. Hudson as president ; James L. King, vice-president ; Dell Keizer, business manager ; and Harold T. Chase, associate editor. November 19, 1895, the property of the company was transferred to John R. Mulvane, under the operation of various mortgages held by him. The paper was continued under the business direction of Dell Keizer, and the editorial management of Harold T. Chase, until August 1, 1899, when a sale was made to the Capital Publishing Com- pany, organized by F. O. Popenoe and others, Mr. Keizer remaining as busi- ness manager and Mr. Chase as editor. It was during the Popenoe adminis- tration that Rev. Charles M. Sheldon was placed in charge of the business management and editorial direction of the paper for one week, to demonstrate his idea of what a daily newspaper should be in order to conform to the relig- ious sentiment of the community in which it is published. Another change occurred April 1, 1901, when a majority of the stock of the company was purchased by Arthur Capper, Richard Thomas, Harold T. Chase and W. B. Robey. Mr. Keizer retired from the company at this date. Early in 1905, Arthur Capper purchased the interest of his associates, and he is now the sole proprietor, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Robey retiring, and Mr. Chase remaining as managing editor. Through all its changes and vicissitudes, the Capital has for more than 25 years been the leading Republican morning newspaper of Kansas.
The Topeka daily Blade was established as an evening newspaper (inde- pendent) August 1, 1873, by J. Clarke Swayze. Its publication was suspended January 31, 1874, but resumed under the same management January 7, 1875. Mr. Swayze continued the Blade until March 27. 1877, when he was shot and
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HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
killed by John W. Wilson, the homicide resulting from a newspaper contro- versy. The Blade was bought Feburary 28, 1878, by George W. Reed, who conducted it as a Republican paper until September, 1879.
AN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL.
The Topeka State Journal, daily and weekly, was the successor to the Blade, and was founded October 1, 1879, by George W. Reed. The political policy of the paper was changed in December, 1880, when it became the State organ of the Greenback and Labor Reform parties. This change brought Rev. D. P. Mitchell to the editorial chair. Mitchell died in September, 1881, and Col. S. N. Wood, succeeded him as editor. Both the daily and weekly gained a wide circulation throughout the State, and a stock company was formed to conduct the business upon an enlarged scale. This proved to be the undoing of Colonel Reed, who was the principal owner, and he was obliged to dispose of the property. It was purchased October 29, 1885, by Frank P. MacLennan, who converted it into an independent newspaper, and has con- tinued its publication up to the present time. Mr. MacLennan is the sole owner and chief editor, and in 20 years has built up one of the finest newspaper properties in the State. The State Journal occupies its own building, equipped with every facility for gathering and disseminating the news, and is a splendid example of the modern American daily newspaper. Fred H. Collier, now of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, was formerly employed on the State Journal. The present associate editor is Llewellyn L. Kiene.
A NEW VENTURE.
The daily Herald, an evening Republican newspaper, was founded by Dell Keizer July 1, 1901, with J. K. Hudson as editor-in-chief, the business being carried on in the name of the Herald Publishing Company, in which Mr. Keizer owns a large majority of the stock. The Herald was launched in midsummer of a dull year, with limited backing, and against the advice of prudent and far-seeing business men. Through his ability, energy and expe- 1ience, Mr. Keizer has obtained a secure foothold for his paper, and has stead- ily increased its business and influence. It is now the official paper of the State and of the city of Topeka.
At the present time there are three daily newspapers in Topeka-the Capital, State Journal and Herald-and this challenge may be put forth with absolute safety : That no other city of 50,000 population in the United States can show three daily papers so well printed, so well edited, so well conducted from every journalistic standpoint.
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FORTY YEARS OF THE FARMER.
One of the oldest newspapers in the State is the Kansas Farmer, an agri- cultural and stock journal, founded by the State Agricultural Society May I, 1863, and managed by F. G. Adams, secretary of the society. It was first published as a monthly at Topeka, but on January 1, 1865, it was sold to J. S. Brown, and removed to Lawrence. George T. Anthony bought the paper August 1, 1867, and removed it to Leavenworth, where it was changed from a monthly to a semi-monthly, George A. Crawford being the associate editor and traveling representative. In January, 1873, M. S. Grant became the owner, with Dr. A. G. Chase as editor. J. K. Hudson purchased the paper November 15, 1873, and removed it to Topeka January 1, 1874, where it has ever since been published as a weekly. E. E. Ewing bought a half-interest in the business May 1, 1878, which was repurchased in a year by Mr. Hudson. The firm of DeMotte & Ricks purchased from Mr. Hudson in 1882, and organized the Kansas Farmer Company, of which H. C. DeMotte was presi- dent; R. R. Brown, treasurer; H. A. Heath, business manager; and W. A. Peffer, editor. DeMotte and Ricks subsequently retired from the company. The present officers of the company are: E. B. Cowgill, president and editor ; J. B. McAfee, vice-president; D. C. Nellis, secretary and treasurer ; H. A. Heath, business manager; I. D. Graham, associate editor. The Farmer has had a continuous existence for more than 40 years.
The first number of the Topeka Leader appeared December 9, 1865, J. F. Cummings and Ward Burlingame, proprietors. Burlingame retired in a few weeks and Cummings continued the paper until March 4, 1869, when it was absorbed by the Commonwealth. Mr. Cummings undertook to revive the Leader in 1876, but the effort was a failure.
Rev. Peter MacVicar conducted the Kansas Educational Journal (monthly) at Topeka, in 1866-67. It was started in 1864 at Leavenworth, and its publication continued for 10 years at Leavenworth, Grasshopper Falls, Topeka, Emporia, Topeka and Leavenworth, successively.
KANSAS MAGAZINE.
The most ambitious literary venture ever undertaken in Kansas was the publication of the Kansas Magasine, a monthly periodical, by a stock company which included S. S. Prouty, Henry King, D. W. Wilder, Thomas A. Osborn, C. W. Babcock, John A. Martin, D. M. Valentine, M. W. Reynolds and W. H. Smallwood. The first number was printed January 1, 1872, with Henry King as editor. Only four volumes were completed, covering the years 1872
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HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
and 1873. In the latter year James W. Steele succeeded Henry King as editor.
NORTH TOPEKA ENTERPRISES.
The North Topeka Times ( weekly) was started March 16, 1871, by C. Maynard. He sold to J. V. Admire May 30, 1872. V. P. Wilson became the owner January 1, 1874. From March 1, 1875, to May 25, 1876, it was pub- lished as a daily, having been transferred to Topeka proper, with James L. King as editor. It was then sold to N. R. Baker, and six weeks later was transferred to the Commonwealth and discontinued.
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